Earth-boring system



April 28, 1931. 'w H|| D EARTH BORING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 21. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i INVNTOR fieqez/ 14/ My W AT'ToRNEY F. W. HILD EARTH BORING SYSTEM April 28 1931 Filed Nov. 21, 1925 INVENTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITN SS S: aw

ATT'ORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1931 PATENT .OFFICE FBEDERIC W. HILID, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA EARTH-BOEING SYSTEM Application filed November 21, 1925. Serial No. 70,686.

My invention relates to earth-boring sys tems, more especially to earth-boring systems embodying rotary drilling means for oil-well-drilling operations.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide an earth-boring system which shall be adapted for use in relatively deep drilling operations and which shall embody regulating means for maintaining a substantially uniform operating characteristic of the drill member for all depths of drilling.

Another object of my invention is to provide an earth-boring system in which the actuating mechanism for the drill member is coordinated with the drillfeed mechanism so that the latter is responsive to variations in the cutting resistance encountered by the drill bit for the varying earth formations.

Another object of my invention is to provide an earth-boring system embodying a transmission mechanism of novel construction which is cooperatively connected to a torque device for the purpose of regulating the torque input or torsional load on the drill member.

Another object of my invention is to provide an earth-boring system of the abovedesignated character which shall embody means for indicating a predetermined maximum torque on the drill member as a warning that a maximum safe working stress in the drill pipe has been reached.

Another object of my invention is to provide an earth-boring device of relatively simple, compact and durable mechanical construction in which the transmission system is mainly carried by the line shaft member, thus eliminating the necessity of special gear boxes or transmission housings that take up considerable space on the derrick fioor.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a transmission system for earthboring apparatus which shall embody a plurality of diiferential gear mechanisms that are adapted to be coordinated with the prime movers and the drill-actuating and feeding devices in such manner that the several operations of drilling, hoisting'and all the accessory operations of lifting and cleaning may readily be accomplished without altering the position or relation ofethe various elements comprising the drilling unit.

Still another of my invention is to provide an earth-boring system of the above-designated character which shall be adapted for use with either reciprocating engines or electric motors, said engines or motors being utilized in pairs and being coupled to the transmission system in a manner that will be hereinafter set forth.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for measuring or indicating the torsional load on the couplings and pipes of the drill stem or casings, as they are assembled by screwing them together through the agency of the draw-works and rotary table, so as to avoid over-stress and consequent damage to the material. 1

Another object of my invention is to automatically regulate the power output of the prime movers in accordance with the load on the drill and thereby regulate the feed of the bit.

In my copending applications, Serial Nos. 614,941, and 454,451, filed Mar. 22, 1921, and J an. 25, 1923, l have described an earth boring system embodying a mechanical differential gear transmission and various means for associating the same with the drill table, the draw-works, the counter shaft and control apparatus.

In all of these types, the differential gear transmission constitutes a self-contained unit that is housed in a gear box or casing for the purpose of facilitating handling in its application to the rotary drillmechanism and its cooperating draw works. Such a self-contained unit is relatively expensive to construct and requires the use of considerable valuable floor space on the derrick floor.

My present invention is directed to an earth-boring system in which the transmission mechanism is mounted on the line shaft of the standard draw works and the transmission is so constructed that it requires no casing for housing the mechanism, thereby materially reducing its bulk and weight,

'of the differential gear mechanisms.

which directly results in a substantial reduction of its cost. A transmission of this type permits of a far simpler arrangement of the several cooperating members constituting the drilling unit, particularly in that the operating mechanism with the exception of the prime movers may be concentrated around the derrick posts, thus making available the greater portion of the derrick floor for the maneuvers of the operator.

Another novel feature wherein my present transmission system differs from those shown and described in the aforementioned applications is the utilization of a pair of differential gear mechanisms in place of the single differential gear mechanisms heretofore employed. The advantage-of the double differential apparatus lies in the provision of regulating means for limiting the torsional load on the drill pipe to safe working stresses, and this action is effective through the use of a torque device that cooperates with one The torque device further provides for means to audibly indicate the amount of torque on the drill member.

In the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts;

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic'view of an earth-boring system embodying the principles of my invention,

Fig. 2 is view in end elevation of one side of a derrick, showing the transmission system coupled to the troque device and the draw-Works; and

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the ap paratus shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the apparatus therein illustrated comprises a rotary table 1 having a central opening 2 therein adapted to engage the drill pipe or drill stem. The table 1 is actuated bya drive shaft 3 having gear tooth engagement therewith, Fig. 3, in accordance with a familiar practice, and having a driving connection through a sprocket-wheel 4 to a sprocket-wheel 5 of a transmission system.

The transmission, comprising a plurality of differential gear mechanism 6 and 7, is mounted on a line shaft 8 of a draw-works that is provided with catheads 9 on the respective ends of the shaft. The line shaft is connected through sprocket-wheels 11, 12 and 13 to sprocket-wheels 14, 15 and 16, respectively, of a drum shaft 17 that carries a hoist drum 18. The differential mechanisms are connected through sprocket-wheels19 and 20, which are secured to or integrally formed with the sun gear wheels 21 and 22 of the differential devices, to sprocket-wheels 23 and 24 that .are mounted on crank shafts 25 and 26 of a pair of reciprocating engines 27 and 28, respectively.

A plurality of jaw clutches 29, 30 and 31 are adapted to cooperate with the sprocketwheels 14, 15 and 16, respectively, to effect engagement thereof with the drum shaft 17 provided with a sprocket-wheel 33, which is operatively connected to a sprocket-wlieel 34 that is mounted on the planetary system of the differential gear mechanism 7. A jaw clutch 35 is mounted on the torque shaft 32 and is adapted to engage the sprocket-wheel 33 to effect a drive connection with the torque shaft. A torque arm 36 is secured to the torque shaft 32 and is adapted to oscillate therewith for the purpose that will be hereinafter set forth.

One end of the torque shaft 32 is provided with a movable contact member 37 that is adapted to engage a stationary contact member 38, under predeterminedconditions. The contact members 37 and 38 are connected in an electrical circuit compiising a set of dry cell batteries 4.2, so that when contact is made between the members 37 and 38, a bell 43 will ring.

The regulating members of the prime movers, such as the throttle valves 50 of either or both engines 27, 28, or the controllers for a pair of motors if utilized as prime movers, may be connected by suitable linkage as, for instance, rod 51, which is secured to torque arm 36, rod 52 and lever 53, to regulate the supply of steam or electric current, as the case may be, in accordance with the movement of the differential mechanism 7. Such a connection of the torque device with the prime movers renders the regulation of the power output of the latter responsive to, and automatically controlled by, the torsional load on the drill.

The operation of my apparatus is briefly as follows: The transmission mechanism is actuated through its driving connection with the reciprocating engines, as shown in Fig. 1. The sprocket-wheels 19 and 20 are rotated by the respective engines and a differentiation of their speeds may be effected by means of the planetary system 6, which is secured by a spider to the line shaft 8 and is adapted to rotate therewith. Since the reciprocating engines 27 and 28 may be operated in opposite directions of rotation, that is, forward or reverse, or.simultaneously in the same direction of rotation, it is apparent that any speed of rotation or direction of rotation may be obtained on the line shaft 8, in accordance with the articular operations such as drilling, eeding, rapid hoisting or other accessory operations, it is desired to perform.

If it is desired to actuate the hoist drum 18 for lifting, hoistin or lowering of drill pipes or casing, the c utch 35 on the torque shaft 32 is disengaged, thus leaving the sprocket-wheel 33 to rotate idly upon the s aft 32 and, consequently, the planetary system of the difierential gear mechanism 7, which is journalled for rotation on the line shaft 8, will be free to rotate without transmitting torque to the sun gear-wheel to which the sprocket-wheel is secured. The latter, being connected to the sprocket-wheel 4 of the rotary drive shaft 3, will remain stationar. since the static friction of the rotary ta Is is sufiicient to overcome any effort of the planetary gear-wheels to rotate the same.

The line shaft 8 will, therefore, rotate independently of the drive shaft 3 of the rotary table and all of the power of the engine members isv available to be applied to line shaft 8 or drum shaft 17 Any one of the clutch members 29, or 31 may be engaged with its cooperatin sprocket-wheel in order to select the desired speed ratio between the line shaft 8 and drum shaft 17, depending on the speed it is desired to attain on the hoist drum 18. For small hoisting or auxiliary operations the clutches may be disengaged, thus leaving the line shaft 8 the only rotating member, which is sometimes desirable for the utilization of the catheads 9 on the ends of the shaft.

For the drilling operation, the clutch is engaged with the sprocket-wheel 33, thus connecting the torque shaft 32 to the sprocket-wheel 34 of the differential gear mechanism 7. When this connection is efiected, the power transmitted from the reciprocating engines 27 and 28 through the sprocketwheels 23 and 24 will rotate the sun gear wheels 21 and 22 of the differential mechanism 6 in 1qpposite directions at difierent speeds, to e ect a resultant rotation of the line shaft 8, to which the hoist drum 18 is connected for rotation by virtue of its engagement through any one of the corresponding clutch members.

At the same time, the double sun gearwheel 22, constituting one side of the differential mechanism 7, will effect a transmis sion of torque throu h the planetary gear wheels and the sproc et-wheel 5 to the rotary shaft 3 of the table 1. The torque transmittedthrough the differential mechanism 7 is counteracted by the torque arm 36 of the torque shaft 32, since it is the potential energy of the arm 36- that restrains the rotatory movement of the planetary system to effect a transmission of torque to the sprocketwheel 5. a

It is evident that the location of the torque arm 36 in the quadrant formed by its vertical and horizontal positions corresponds to the torque it is desired to transmit to the rotary table 1. Consequently, any increase in torque will effect of the torque arm, which will be observed 85 by the operator, who further will become an increased movement cognizant of the fact that the maximum torsional load has been reached on the drill when the torque arm is in horizontal position and, as an additional precaution by an audible warning produced by the engagement of the contact members 37 .and 38, which closes the circuit of the bell 43, causing the latter to ring.

The desired maximum torsional load on the drill member may be predetermined and this load, of course, corresponds to the maximum safe stressing of the drill pipe or drill bit. Once this quantity has been established, the weight, length and position of the torque arm 36 may be chosen to effect such a counterbalance on the planetary system of the dif-' ferential gear mechanism 7 as will produce a given torque on the sprocket-wheel 5.

The maximum torque for which the counter-balance efiect of the torque arm 36 is designed wi l-l be reached when the torque arm assumes the position in which its center of gravity and the axis of the torque shaft 32 lie in a horizontal plane; and the contact member 37 on the shaft 32 may accordingly be adjusted to the position where it will effect engagement with the contact member 38 when the torque arm 36 has swung to this position.

The'torque shaft 32 is journalled for rota-) tion but is subjected to oscillatory movements in accordance with the swinging of the torque arm 36 from its neutral vertical position, as shown in Fig. 3, to the horizontal position which indicates that a maximum torsiona load is being transmitted to the rotary drill table.-

When the rotary table 1 is driven for the drilling operation, and the counter shaft 17 is operatively connected to the line shaft 8 through any one of the sprocket-wheel drives, the drill member will be automatically fed in the direction of the workby the rotation of the hoist drum 18, under the influence of gravity. The feed effected through the drum 18 by its rotation in the direction of the work will be proportionate to the cutting speed of the drill bit which speed varies with the different earth formations that are encountered in the drilling operation. If for instance, the drill bit suddently emerges from a soft sand or shale formation into a solid rock or bowlder formation, the drill bit will encounter very high, if not excessive resistance, which has a tendency to prevent its further rotation. The hoist drum 18, by

virtue of its differential connection to the drill mechanism, will slow down proportionately to the slowing down of the-drill from the work to permit it to resume a normal drilling speed, whereupon it is again automatically reversed and fed in the direcherein described as a further precaution,

since by its indication the driller may so adjust the speeds of the engines that any desired torsional loads may be transmitted to' the drill member.

Such speed and power adjustment may be made automatically and independently of the driller bymeans of the linkage 51, 52 and connecting the torque arm 36 with either or both of the engine throttles 50. As an example; when the torque arm moves toward maximum load position the steam supply to engine 27 is increased and it tends to run faster. With engine 27 operating in the direction to hoist the drill, this will result. in lessening the weight or pressure on the bit and, therefore, lessen its torque requirements.

Moreover, when assembling or disassembling drill pipe or casing bymeans of the rotary machine, the torque arm will indicate the force exerted in such operation.

It is evident from the foregoing description of my invention that earth-boring systems made in accordance therewith and embodying the cooperating elements therein described provide an eflicient and' safe means for carrying on earth-boring operations and that such apparatus further facilitates the main and auxiliary operations to the extent that relatively deep holes maybe bored in a comparatively short time and with the minimum amount of accidents and twist-offs, such as are frequently encountered in the use of ordinary drilling equipment.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction, in the size and proportions of the several cooperating parts and in the arrange ment of the operating mechanism without departing from the principles herein set forth.

I claim as my invention 1. In an earth-boring system, the combina tion with a rotary table, a draw-works and a prime mover, of a transmission system comprisinga line shaft, a countershaft and a torque shaft operatively connected to said table, draw-works and prime mover, a pair of differential gear wheels mounted on said line shaft, a torque arm mounted on said torque shaft, a hoist drum mounted on said counter shaft, means for actuating said countor shaft independently of said rotary table, and means for coordinating the operation of said table and said draw-works.

Q. In an earth-boring system, the combination with a rotary table, a draw-works and a prime mover, of a transmission system com- 3. In an earth-boring system, the combination with a rotary table, a draw-works and a prime mover, ofa transmission system comprising a line shaft, a countershaft and a torque shaft operatively connected to said table, draw-works and prime mover, a pair of differential gear wlfeels mounted on said line shaft, a torque arm mounted on said torque shaft, a hoist drum mounted on said counter shaft, means for actuating said counter shaft independently of said rotary table, and means for differentiating the speeds and for regulating the direction of rotation of said rotary table and said draw-works.

4. In an earth-boring system, the combination with a rotary table, a draw-works and a prime mover, of a transmission system comprising a line shaft, a countershaft. and a torque shaft operatively connected to said table, draw-works and prime mover, a pair of differential gear wheels mounted on said line shaft, a torque arm mounted on said torque shaft, a hoist drum mounted on said counter shaft, means for actuating said counter shaft independently of said rotary table, and means for differentiating the speeds and for regulating the direction of rotation of the several shafts and said rotary table.

5. In an earth-boring system, the combination with a rotary table, a draw-works and a plurality of reciprocating engines, of a transmission system comprising a line shaft, a counter-shaft and a torque shaft operatively connected to said rotary table, drawworks and engines, a pair of differential gear Wheels mounted on said line shaft, one of which has its planetary system connected thereto and the other has its planetary system connected to said torque shaft, a bevel gear wheel journalled on said line shaft in gear tooth engagement with said first-named planetry system and having a drive connect-ion with one of said reciprocating engines, a double bevel gear Wheel journalled on said line shaft intermediate said planetary systems in gear-tooth engagement therewith and having drive connection with the other of said engines, a bevel gear wheel journalled on said line shaft in gear-tooth engagement with said last-named planetary system and having a drive connection with said rotary table, a plurality of drive connections for said line shaft and said countershaft, and means for engaging or disengaging said last-named connections.

6. In an earth-boring system, the combination with a rotary table, a draw-works and a plurality of reciprocating engines, of a transits planetary system connected thereto and the other has its planetary system connected to said torque shaft, a bevel gear Wheel journalled on said line shaft in gear-tooth engagement with said first-named planetary system and having a drive connection with one of said reciprocating engines, a double bevel gear wheel journalled on said line shaft intermediate said planetary systems in geartooth engagement therewith and having a drive connection with the other of said engines, a bevel gear wheel journalled on said line shaft in gear-tooth engagement with said last-named planetary system and having a drive connection with said rotary table, a plurality of drive connections for said line shaft and said countershaft, means for engaging and disengaging said torque and line shafts, and means for engaging and disengaging said counter-shaft and line shaft.

7. In an earth-boring system, the combination with a rotary table, a draw-works and a plurality of reciprocating engines, of a transmission system comprising a line shaft, a counter-shaft, and a torque shaft operative- ]y connected to said rotary table, draw-works and engines, a pair of differential gear wheels mounted on said line shaft, one of which has its planetary system connected thereto and the other has its planetary system connected to said torque shaft, a bevel gear wheel journalled on said line shaft in gear-tooth engagement with said first-named planetary system and having a drive connection with one of said reciprocating engines, a double bevel gear wheel journalled on said line shaft intermediate said planetary systems in geartooth engagement therewith and having a drive connection with the other or said engines, a bevel gear wheel journalled on said line shaft in gear-tooth engagement with said last-named planetary system and having a drive connection with said rotary table, a plurality of drive connections for said line shaft and said countershaft, and means for actuating said countershaft in either direction of rotation and simultaneously actuating said rotary table to rotate the same in the direc- :ion of rotation for its normal drilling opera- 8. In an earth-boring system, in combination, a rotary, tablefor rotating a boring tool, a hoist drum and cable for supporting the tool, a plurality of reciprocating engines for I operating the rotary table and the hoist drum,

a source of operating fluid connected to the engines, drivmg connections interposed between the en 'nes and the rotary table and hoist, said driving connections comprising a plurality of differential mechanisms carried by a ccmmon shaft, said mechanisms comprising planetary elements and sun gears, the planetary element of the one being operatively connected to the common shaft, the planetary element of the second differential mechanism being rotatably mounted on said common shaft, means for resiliently confining-- the movement of said planetary element within predetermined limits in response to the loadon the rotary table and means disposed to be actuated by said last-named means for controlling the supply of operating fluid to the engines to institute a hoisting operation and thereby prevent excessive torque from being applied to the drilling tool.

9. In an earth-boring system, in combination, a rotary table for rotating a boring tool, a hoisting drum and cable for supporting the tool, a plurality of reciprocating engines for operating the rotary table and the hoistingi drum, a source of operating fluid connecte to the engines, driving connections between the engines and the rotary drill table and hoist drum, said driving connections comprising a plurality of differential mechanisms as-. sociated with a common shaft, eachdifl'erential mechanism comprising a floating portion, the floating portion of one being operatively connected to the common shaft and the floating portion of the second being freely rotatable thereon and operatively connected to the hoisting drum and means for restricting the movement of the freely rotatable floating portion of the second differential to control the supply of operating fluid to the engines to permit a predetermined torque to be transmitted from the engines to the rotary table.

10. A'transmission mechanism comprising a driven member, a feed mechanism associated with the driven member, a torque responsive device disposed to measure the total torque exerted upon said driven member, two reciprbcating engines operatively connected to the driven member, a source of operating fluid connected to the engines, a differential mechanism disposed to transmit power from one of the engines to the driven member and to communicate the torque of said engine to the feed mechanism, said torque responsive device being operatively connected to regulatethe proporton of the total torque that is supplied by each of the engines by control ling the supply of operating fluid to one of them.

11. In an earth-boring system, in combination, a driven element, a reciprocating engine for driving said element,asource of o erating fluid connected to the engine a fee 'mechanism associated with the driven element, a

the engine and the driven element and operatively connected to the feed mechanism whereby the power of the-engine is transmitted to the driven element and the reaction, torque of the differential mechanism is utilized to operate the feed mechanism, a second reciprocating engine interposed between the differential mechanism and the driven element for assisting the first-named engine, a second difi'erential mechanism interposed between the two reciprocating engines and the driven element and means associated with the second difierential mechanism for adjusting the operating fluid supply to the first engine to thereby regulate the torque of said engine and consequently the torque exerted upon the feed mechanism by the first differential mechanism to regulate the feed in such manner that the total torque applied to the driven element will be maintained substantially constant.

12. In a boring mechanism, the combination with a driven element and a feed mechanism associated with the driven element, of two reciprocating engines for driving the driven element, a source of operating fluid connected to the engines, and a transmission system comprising a torque responsive device interposed between the two engines and the driven element, a differential mechanism interposed between one of the engines and the driven element through which substantially all of the power of said engine is transmitted to the driven element and whereby the reaction torque thereof is utilized to operate the feed mechanism, and means connected to the torque responsive device for varying the ratio of the operating fluid input to each of the two engines in accordance with the total torque exerted upon the driven element to thereby,regulate the torque exerted by one of the engines upon the feed mechanism for. the purpose of maintaining a substantially constant boring pressure.

13. In an earth-boring system, the combination with a, drilling mechanism, of a differential mechanism comprising three elements operatively connected for transmitting power to the drilling mechanism, two reciprocating n engines for driving the drilling mechanism, one of said engines being connected to one element of the differential mechanism and the other engine being connected to a second element of the differential mechanism, a feed mechanism associated with the drilling mechanism and operatively connected to a third element of the differential mechanism in such manner that it. is normally responsive to the torque exerted by one of the engines, said third element of the differential mechanism being disposed to transmit power from said engine tc the secondelement of the differential mechanism, transmission means for I transmitting the sum of the power delivered by the two engines from the second element.

of the differential mechanism to the drilling mechanism for rotating it, said transmission means comprising a torque responsive device and means operatively connected to the torque responsive device for controlling the supply of operating fluid to the engines to regulate the proportion of the total power supplied by each of the engines.

14. The combination, in a transmission syste of a driven member, a feed mechanism for the driven member, a'torque-responsive device associated with the driven memher, a plurality of reciprocating engines for driving the driven member, one of said engines being also operatively connected to the feed mechanism, a source of operating fluid for the engines and means operative through said torque device for varying the supply of operating fluid to said engines.

15. The combination, in an earth-boring system, of a drill mechanism, a draw works, a regulating device responsive to the torque applied to the drill mechanism, a plurality of reciprocating engines for driving the drill mechanism, one of said engines being also operatively connected to the draw works, a source of operating fluid for the engines and a valve for regulating the supply of operating fluid to said engines, said valve being adjustable by said torque responsive device.

16. An earth-boring system comprising a drill disposed to be fed by gravity, means for exerting a force on the drill in opposition to the force of gravity, a. reciprocating engine operatively connected for driving the drill, a mechanism disposed to transmit power from the engine to the drill to rotate it and to transmit torque from the engine to the force exerting means, a second engine con nected to the mechanism for assisting the first engine to rotate the drill, a torque-responsive device disposed to measure the total torque applied to the drill and means operatively connected to the torque-responsive device for regulating the torque exerted by the first named engine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereuntosub scribed my name this 9th day of November, 

